MHS students place in local, county essay contests

American Legion Auxiliary President Arlene Lolley [left] and Sergeant-at-Arms Karen Jacobs [right] congratulate Katelyn Siltman and Jackson Steiner. Victoria Willman was not present for the photo.

American Legion Auxiliary President Arlene Lolley [left] and Sergeant-at-Arms Karen Jacobs [right] congratulate Katelyn Siltman and Jackson Steiner. Victoria Willman was not present for the photo. (Posted by rgirard, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor rgirard

Mundelein High School students took first, second and third place among Class III Americanism Essay Contest entries submitted to the Mundelein American Legion Auxiliary and Post. The annual contest, in place since 1922, is co-sponsored by the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion Detachment of Illinois.Jackson Steiner, Victoria Willman and Katelyn Siltman, all juniors, placed first, second and third respectively at the local level. Steiner's first place essay then competed against all first place essays from the more than 26 high schools in Lake County and his took third place. A panel of three judges from Mundelein's American Legion Auxiliary #867 and the Post Unit #867 selected the top three winners and two honorable mention entries from 12 essay submissions. Contestants responded to the question, "Should there be term limits for our US Senators and Representatives?"Arlene Lolley, Auxiliary president, explained that Jackson had the strongest essay and that this was the first time in a few years that Mundelein High School students were among the contestants.Steiner's AP Language teacher Elizabeth Willis announced the contest in class. "I was also in AP Government at the time and was learning about all the things congressmen do," Steiner said, which helped him put together the foundation for his essay supporting term limits. Steiner, who is an intern with Congressman Robert Dold (10th District), hopes to apply to the US Naval Academy next year.

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